Last
weekend, the Chicago Police Department collaborated with over 20 local
churches in a giant effort to encourage Chicagoans "to get guns
out of their homes." WBBM News Radio has the story. "Using
the lure of $100 gift cards, the Chicago Police Department is encouraging
people to get guns out of their homes and turn them in this Saturday,
during the annual gun turn-in program."

The
news report goes on to say, "[T]he Police Department is partnering
with 20 churches.

First
Deputy Supt. Alfonza Wysinger says anyone who turns in a real gun will
get a $100 gift card. Replicas and BB guns are worth $10.

"'No
questions asked,' Wysinger said. 'Just show up at the church, and hand
over the weapons to the CPD officer that will be there, and get your
$100 gift card. So we strongly suggest that people come out that have
weapons lying around the house, or weapons, maybe, that they don't necessarily
want in their house. This is a chance to get some money for their weapon,
and get another dangerous weapon on [sic] the street.'"

The
report then lists 23 churches that are identified as participating in
the gun turn-in event.

But
I particularly enjoyed a few of the comments that readers posted to
the online report:

One
guy wrote, "Gun thieves will be lined up for blocks."

Another
wrote, "They can arrest you for having a gun outside of your house."

And
another person wrote, "[Criminals] are turning in the guns they
used in multiple crimes because the stupid politicians will destroy
them thus getting rid of the evidence..."

And
perhaps my favorite comment on the story was this one: "WOW. BOTH
police and CHURCHES turning traitor against the Constitution."

Truthfully,
think about the absurdity of this gun turn-in program. As one reader
noted, think of the money gun thieves will make on this program. As
any tenured lawman knows, most guns are stolen to resell in order to
get the money to purchase drugs, booze, sex, etc. Some are used in crimes,
sure. But most are used for the purpose of making a buck. Imagine a
gun thief who has perhaps 50 or 60 stolen guns in his possession: that
guy has just made a small fortune OFF THE TAXPAYERS. Remember, there
are "no questions asked." And since the cops in Chicago seem
to be doing this annually, how many gun thieves are stealing guns all
year long and just saving up for the big payout, or how many start a
gun-stealing frenzy just before the anticipated gun turn-in program?
$100 for a stolen gun is often a higher bid than what the thief would
get on the street. What a deal!

And
think of this angle: what better way to get some quick dough by selling
a gun or two that is totally inoperable, and then taking the money and
buying a gun that actually works? Again, what a deal!

And
another reader nailed it when he observed that taking a firearm outside
your home is a CRIME in Chicago. In fact, I am surprised to learn that
people in Chicago can even legally have a gun in their homes. You cannot
legally carry a firearm in Chicago. So, the CPD is encouraging people
to BREAK THE LAW. I can just imagine people all over Chicago caught
carrying guns and telling the arresting officer, "I was going to
take it to the gun turn-in program." And you know what the cop
would say, right? "Tell it to the judge."

This
brings up another point: why is there so much gun-related crime in Chicago,
anyway? After all, Chicago has some of the most restrictive gun laws
in the entire country. GUNS ARE ILLEGAL IN CHICAGO! So, pray tell, where
is all of this gun-related crime coming from? I thought that passing
laws restricting the ownership and possession of firearms was supposed
to reduce crime? If that is truly the case, Chicago, Washington, D.C.,
and New York City, etc., should be the most peaceful places on earth!
Of course, the truth is if you want to find peaceful communities, go
to states such as Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Vermont where just about
everybody is packin' heat!

Plus,
the point that another reader made about criminals turning in the guns
with which they have committed crimes and thereby letting the authorities
destroy those firearms--thus destroying the evidence--is a very astute
observation. Way to go CPD!

But
the icing on the cake for me is the point that one reader made when
he said, "WOW. BOTH police and CHURCHES turning traitor against
the Constitution." Bingo!

Another
reader was even more direct. He said, "The government and so called
churches will be the downfall of this great country's Constitution."
Amen!

It
grieves me to say that a sizeable percentage (if not a majority) of
today's churches are as culpable in the dismantling of our Constitution
and Bill of Rights as any entity one can think of. So many pastors and
churches today are unwilling to take a stand against almost ANYTHING
that might have political overtones. I doubt that most of them would
say "Boo" to the devil himself--especially if he came dressed
in a government uniform. They are all about making people feel good,
entertaining people, and stroking people's egos.

In
fact, let me ask my church-going readers to try an experiment. The next
time you go to church, ask your pastor where he or she stands on the
Second
Amendment. Ask them, "Would our church participate in a police-sponsored
gun turn-in program?" Ask them, "If the President declared
a 'national
emergency,' and FEMA (or any federal or State agency) asks you to ask
your
congregation to turn in their firearms, would you agree to do so?"
Go ahead:
ask them! Then observe their reaction very carefully.

You
can count on this: virtually no pastor whose church is receiving federal
"faith based initiative" taxpayer monies would take a public
stand for the Second Amendment under those conditions. Count on it.
So maybe you should also ask your pastor if your church is receiving
federal "faith based initiative" monies. All over America,
literally thousands of churches are accepting federal tax dollars to
help support their daycare centers, their after-school programs, their
"Christian" schools, their food banks, etc.

Contrast
today's churches to those of Colonial America. In those days, gun racks
for the rifles that had been brought to church were as common as coat
racks. In fact, many times, the church basement or back room was used
as a place in which caches of firearms were commonly stored.

I
realize the times in which we live do not remotely resemble those of
Colonial America, but the spirit and attitudes of the pastors and men
of the church should still be the same: that freedom is fragile and
that firearms are "the people's liberty teeth" (George Washington),
that, "An armed society is a polite society" (Robert Heinlein),
and, "No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms" (Thomas
Jefferson).

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And
while these milquetoast preachers are preparing their sermonettes, they
should read what the Lord Jesus said: "He that hath no sword, let
him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke 22:36) Of course, the
Roman sword was the First Century equivalent to a Twenty-First Century
handgun: it was the weapon of choice for personal, close quarter combat.
In today's parlance, Jesus said if you don't have the money, sell your
clothes if you have to, and buy a GUN! That's a far cry from churches
in Chicago asking people to give up their guns, isn't it?

I
don't know about anyone else, but I will take the word of Jesus over
the word of Barack Obama and his Chicago Gestapo any day!

P.S.
Through Independence Day, we are shipping THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS. This
is a giant compilation of 50 of the greatest documents of American history
in one volume, under one title. This is available nowhere else that
I know of. This summer printing is limited, so if you want to get your
copy of THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS, you need to order now! Click
here.

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Chuck
Baldwin is a syndicated columnist, radio broadcaster, author, and pastor
dedicated to preserving the historic principles upon which America was
founded. He was the 2008 Presidential candidate for the Constitution Party.
He and his wife, Connie, have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. Chuck and
his family reside in the Flathead Valley of Montana. See
Chuck's complete bio here.